Poor Sally is a-weeping, a-weeping, a-weeping,
 Poor Sally is a-weeping, down by the sea-side.
 Pray tell me what you’re weeping for, you’re weeping for, you’re weeping for,
 Pray tell me what you’re weeping for, down by the sea-side?
I’m weeping for my sweetheart, my sweetheart, my sweetheart,
 I’m weeping for my sweetheart, down by the sea-side.
A ring o’ roses,
 A pocketful of posies;
 Isham! Isham!
 We all tumble down.

—Manton, Marlborough, Wilts. (H. S. May).

XVI.

Poor Mary is a-weeping, a-weeping, a-weeping,
 On a fine summer’s day;
 What is she weeping for, weeping for, weeping for?
She is weeping for her lover, her lover, her lover;
 And who is her love, who is her lover?
Johnny Baxter is her lover, Johnny Baxter is her lover;
 And where is her lover, where is her lover?
Her lover is a-sleeping, her lover is a-sleeping,
 Is a-sleeping at the bottom of the sea.

—South Devon (Notes and Queries, 8th Series, i. 249, Miss R. H. Busk).

XVII.

Poor Mary, what are you weeping for?
 You weeping for?
 You weeping for?
 Poor Mary, what are you weeping for,
 On a bright summer’s day?
Pray tell us what you are weeping for?
 You are weeping for?
 You are weeping for?
Pray tell us what you are weeping for,
 On a bright summer’s day.
My father he is dead, sir;
 Is dead, sir;
 Is dead, sir.
 My father he is dead, sir,
 On a bright summer’s day.

—Earls Heaton (Herbert Hardy).

XVIII.

Poor Mary is a-weeping, a-weeping, a-weeping,
 Poor Mary is a-weeping, on a fine summer’s day.
 Pray tell me what you’re weeping for? &c.
Because my father’s dead and gone, is dead and gone, is dead and gone;
 Because my father’s dead and gone, on a fine summer’s day.
She is kneeling by her father’s grave, her father’s grave, her father’s grave;
 She is kneeling by her father’s grave, on a fine summer’s day.
Stand up and choose your love, choose your love, choose your love;
 Stand up and choose your love, on a bright summer’s day.

—(Rev. W. Gregor).

XIX.

Oh, what is Jennie weeping for,
 A-weeping for, a-weeping for?
 Oh, what is Jennie weeping for,
 All on this summer’s day?
I’m weeping for my own true love,
 My own true love, my own true love;
 I’m weeping for my own true love,
 All on this summer’s day.
Rise up and choose another love,
 Another love, another love;
 Rise up and choose another love,
 All on this summer’s day.

—Berwickshire (A. M. Bell, Antiquary, xxx. 16).

[56-
60]

No. Barnes. En-
borne.		 Dorset-
shire.		 Upton. Sporle. Col-
chester.		 Winter-
ton.		 Forest of Dean. Lip-
hook.		 Earls Heaton. Suf-
folk.		 Berk-
shire.		 Staf-
ford-
shire.		 New-
bury.		 South Devon. Cam-
bridge.		 Og-
bourne.		 Manton. Ber-
wick-
shire.		 Scot-
land.
1. Poor Mary sits a-weeping. Poor Mary sits a-weeping. — Poor Mary is weeping. Poor [    ] sat a-weeping. Poor Mary sat a-weeping. Mary sits a-weeping. — Poor Sarah’s a-weeping. — Poor Mary sits a-weeping. Poor Mary sits a-weeping. Poor Mary sits a-weeping. Poor Mary sits a-weeping. Poor Mary is a-weeping. Poor Mary is a-weeping. Poor Mary is a-weeping. Poor Sally is a-weeping. What is Jennie weeping for? Poor Mary is a-weeping.
2. Pray, Mary, what are you weeping for? Pray, what are you a-weeping for? Pray, Sally, what are you weeping for? Pray, tell me what you’re weeping for. — — Mary, what are you weep’ng for? Oh! what is Nellie weeping for? Oh, what is she a-weeping for? Poor Mary, what are you weeping for? What is she weeping for? — — Pray what are you weeping for? What is she weeping for? — Pray what is she weeping for? Pray tell me what you’re weeping for. — Pray tell me what you’re weeping for.
3. — — — — — — — — — Pray tell us what you are weeping for? — Pray tell me what she is weeping for? — — — — — — — —
4. I’m weeping for a sweetheart. She’s weeping for a lover. I’m weeping for a sweetheart. I am weeping for my true love. I’m weeping for a sweetheart. — I’m weeping for a sweetheart. I’m weeping for my sweetheart. I’m weeping for a sweetheart. — She’s weeping for a sweetheart. I’m weeping for a sweetheart. She’s weeping for her lover. She’s weeping for a lover. She’s weeping for her lover. — I’m weeping for my true love. I’m weeping for my sweetheart. I’m weeping for my own true love. —
5. On a bright summer’s day. This bright summer’s day. On a bright shiny day. On a bright summer’s day. On a bright summer’s day. — — — This bright summer’s day. On a bright summer’s day. On a fine summer’s day. On a bright summer’s day. On a bright summer’s day. This bright summer’s day. On a fine summer’s day. — On a bright summer’s day. — All on this summer’s day. On a fine summer’s day.
6. — — — — — By the side of the river. — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
7. — — — — — She sat down and cried. — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
8. — — — — — — Close by the sea side. — — — — — — — [See No. 41.] — — Down by the seaside. — —
9. — — — — — — — On a cold and sunshine day. — — — — — — — — — — — —
10. Pray, Mary, choose your lover. Rise up and choose your lover. — Stand up and choose your lover. Pray, get up and choose one. Pray, get up and choose one. Pray, get up and choose one. Now stand up and choose one. Rise up and choose your lover. — Pray get up and choose one. — Stand up and choose your lover. Rise up and choose your lover. — Stand up upon your feet and show the one you love so sweet. Stand up and choose your true love. — — Stand up and choose your love.
11. — — Pray, Sally, go and get one. — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
12. — — — — — — — — She shall have a sweetheart. — — — — — — — — — Rise up and choose another love. —
13. — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — On the carpet she shall kneel till the grass grows on the field. — — — —
14. Now you’re married, I wish you joy. Now Mary she is married. — — — Now you’re married, I wish you joy. — — — — Now you’re married, we wish you joy. — — Now Mary she is married. — Now you’re married I wish you joy. — — — —
15. First a girl, then a boy. — — — — — — — — — — — — — — First a girl and second a boy. — — — —
16. Seven years after, son and daughter. — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
17. — — Pray, Sally, now you’ve got one. — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
18. — — — — Now you’re married you must obey. — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
19. — — — — You must be true to all you say. — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
20. — — — — You must be kind and good. — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
21. — — — — Help wife to chop wood. — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
22. — — — — — Father and mother you must obey. — — — — Father and mother you must obey. — — — — — — — — —
23. — — — — — Love one another like sister and brother. — — — — Love one another like brother and sister. — — — — — — — — —
24. Pray, young couple, come kiss together. — — — — Pray, young couple, come kiss together. — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
25. — — One kiss will never part you. — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
26. — — — Go to church with your lover. — — — — Go to church, love. — Pray go to church, love. — — — — — — — — —
27. — — — Be happy in a ring, love. — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
28. — — — — — — — — Say your prayers, love. — — — — — — — — — — —
29. Kiss her once, twice, kiss three times over. — — Kiss both together, love. — — — — Kiss your lovers. — — — — — — If one don’t kiss, the other must. — — — —
30. — — — — — — — — — My father he is dead, sir. — — — — — — — — — Because my father’s dead and gone.
31. — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — She’s kneeling by her father’s grave.
32. — — — — — — — — — — Pray put the ring on. — — — — — — — — —
33. — — — — — — — — — — Pray come back, love. — — — — — — — — —
34. — — — — — — — — — — Now it’s time to go away. — — — — — — — — —
35. — — — — — — — — — — — Mary’s got a shepherd’s cross. — — — — — — — —
36. — — — — — — — — — — — — Now she’s got a lover. — — — — — — —
37. — — — — — — — — — — — — — — Who is her lover? — — — — —
38. — — — — — — — — — — — — — — I. O. is her lover. — — — — —
39. — — — — — — — — — — — — — — Where is her lover? — — — — —
40. — — — — — — — — — — — — — — Her lover is sleeping. — — — — —
41. — — — — — — — — — — — — — — At the bottom of the sea. — — — — —
42. — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — Ring a ring o’ roses a pocketful of posies. A ring of roses a pocketful of posies. — —
43. — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — We all tumble down. — —
No. Barnes. Enborne. Dorsetshire. Upton. Sporle. Colchester. Winterton.
1. Poor Mary sits a-weeping. Poor Mary sits a-weeping. — Poor Mary is weeping. Poor [    ] sat a-weeping. Poor Mary sat a-weeping. Mary sits a-weeping.
2. Pray, Mary, what are you weeping for? Pray, what are you a-weeping for? Pray, Sally, what are you weeping for? Pray, tell me what you’re weeping for. — — Mary, what are you weep’ng for?
3. — — — — — — —
4. I’m weeping for a sweetheart. She’s weeping for a lover. I’m weeping for a sweetheart. I am weeping for my true love. I’m weeping for a sweetheart. — I’m weeping for a sweetheart.
5. On a bright summer’s day. This bright summer’s day. On a bright shiny day. On a bright summer’s day. On a bright summer’s day. — —
6. — — — — — By the side of the river. —
7. — — — — — She sat down and cried. —
8. — — — — — — Close by the sea side.
9. — — — — — — —
10. Pray, Mary, choose your lover. Rise up and choose your lover. — Stand up and choose your lover. Pray, get up and choose one. Pray, get up and choose one. Pray, get up and choose one.
11. — — Pray, Sally, go and get one. — — — —
12. — — — — — — —
13. — — — — — — —
14. Now you’re married, I wish you joy. Now Mary she is married. — — — Now you’re married, I wish you joy. —
15. First a girl, then a boy. — — — — — —
16. Seven years after, son and daughter. — — — — — —
17. — — Pray, Sally, now you’ve got one. — — — —
18. — — — — Now you’re married you must obey. — —
19. — — — — You must be true to all you say. — —
20. — — — — You must be kind and good. — —
21. — — — — Help wife to chop wood. — —
22. — — — — — Father and mother you must obey. —
23. — — — — — Love one another like sister and brother. —
24. Pray, young couple, come kiss together. — — — — Pray, young couple, come kiss together. —
25. — — One kiss will never part you. — — — —
26. — — — Go to church with your lover. — — —
27. — — — Be happy in a ring, love. — — —
28. — — — — — — —
29. Kiss her once, twice, kiss three times over. — — Kiss both together, love. — — —
30. — — — — — — —
31. — — — — — — —
32. — — — — — — —
33. — — — — — — —
34. — — — — — — —
35. — — — — — — —
36. — — — — — — —
37. — — — — — — —
38. — — — — — — —
39. — — — — — — —
40. — — — — — — —
41. — — — — — — —
42. — — — — — — —
43. — — — — — — —
No. Forest of Dean. Liphook. Earls Heaton. Suffolk. Berkshire. Staffordshire. Newbury.
1. — Poor Sarah’s a-weeping. — Poor Mary sits a-weeping. Poor Mary sits a-weeping. Poor Mary sits a-weeping. Poor Mary sits a-weeping.
2. Oh! what is Nellie weeping for? Oh, what is she a-weeping for? Poor Mary, what are you weeping for? What is she weeping for? — — Pray what are you weeping for?
3. — — Pray tell us what you are weeping for? — Pray tell me what she is weeping for? — —
4. I’m weeping for my sweetheart. I’m weeping for a sweetheart. — She’s weeping for a sweetheart. I’m weeping for a sweetheart. She’s weeping for her lover. She’s weeping for a lover.
5. — This bright summer’s day. On a bright summer’s day. On a fine summer’s day. On a bright summer’s day. On a bright summer’s day. This bright summer’s day.
6. — — — — — — —
7. — — — — — — —
8. — — — — — — —
9. On a cold and sunshine day. — — — — — —
10. Now stand up and choose one. Rise up and choose your lover. — Pray get up and choose one. — Stand up and choose your lover. Rise up and choose your lover.
11. — — — — — — —
12. — She shall have a sweetheart. — — — — —
13. — — — — — — —
14. — — — Now you’re married, we wish you joy. — — Now Mary she is married.
15. — — — — — — —
16. — — — — — — —
17. — — — — — — —
18. — — — — — — —
19. — — — — — — —
20. — — — — — — —
21. — — — — — — —
22. — — — Father and mother you must obey. — — —
23. — — — Love one another like brother and sister. — — —
24. — — — — — — —
25. — — — — — — —
26. — Go to church, love. — Pray go to church, love. — — —
27. — — — — — — —
28. — Say your prayers, love. — — — — —
29. — Kiss your lovers. — — — — —
30. — — My father he is dead, sir. — — — —
31. — — — — — — —
32. — — — Pray put the ring on. — — —
33. — — — Pray come back, love. — — —
34. — — — Now it’s time to go away. — — —
35. — — — — Mary’s got a shepherd’s cross. — —
36. — — — — — Now she’s got a lover. —
37. — — — — — — —
38. — — — — — — —
39. — — — — — — —
40. — — — — — — —
41. — — — — — — —
42. — — — — — — —
43. — — — — — — —
No. South Devon. Cambridge. Ogbourne. Manton. Berwickshire. Scotland.
1. Poor Mary is a-weeping. Poor Mary is a-weeping. Poor Mary is a-weeping. Poor Sally is a-weeping. What is Jennie weeping for? Poor Mary is a-weeping.
2. What is she weeping for? — Pray what is she weeping for? Pray tell me what you’re weeping for. — Pray tell me what you’re weeping for.
3. — — — — — —
4. She’s weeping for her lover. — I’m weeping for my true love. I’m weeping for my sweetheart. I’m weeping for my own true love. —
5. On a fine summer’s day. — On a bright summer’s day. — All on this summer’s day. On a fine summer’s day.
6. — — — — — —
7. — — — — — —
8. [See No. 41.] — — Down by the seaside. — —
9. — — — — — —
10. — Stand up upon your feet and show the one you love so sweet. Stand up and choose your true love. — — Stand up and choose your love.
11. — — — — — —
12. — — — — Rise up and choose another love. —
13. — On the carpet she shall kneel till the grass grows on the field. — — — —
14. — Now you’re married I wish you joy. — — — —
15. — First a girl and second a boy. — — — —
16. — — — — — —
17. — — — — — —
18. — — — — — —
19. — — — — — —
20. — — — — — —
21. — — — — — —
22. — — — — — —
23. — — — — — —
24. — — — — — —
25. — — — — — —
26. — — — — — —
27. — — — — — —
28. — — — — — —
29. — If one don’t kiss, the other must. — — — —
30. — — — — — Because my father’s dead and gone.
31. — — — — — She’s kneeling by her father’s grave.
32. — — — — — —
33. — — — — — —
34. — — — — — —
35. — — — — — —
36. — — — — — —
37. Who is her lover? — — — — —
38. I. O. is her lover. — — — — —
39. Where is her lover? — — — — —
40. Her lover is sleeping. — — — — —
41. At the bottom of the sea. — — — — —
42. — — Ring a ring o’ roses a pocketful of posies. A ring of roses a pocketful of posies. — —
43. — — — We all tumble down. — —